Neil M. Stiver
Neil M. Stiver, age 94, of Walnut, IL, died Saturday, November 26, 2022, at Heritage Health in Walnut.
Neil was born on May 25, 1928, in Tampico, IL, the son of Neil W. and Geraldine (Stevens) Stiver. He served in the U.S. Army, 105th Airborne, during the Korean War. Neil married Joanne Taylor on June 9, 1962, in Bartonville, IL. In 1948 he began his career as a dry cleaner. Neil later owned and operated Stiver’s Cleaners and Laundromat in Walnut; Mr. John’s in Princeton; and Sterling Cleaners in Sterling. He was in the dry-cleaning business for 58 years. He was a member of the Walnut Businessmen’s Club. He served on the Walnut Park District Board for ten years.
He was an athlete and a sports fan from the word “Go!” He played football, basketball, and was on the track team all through high school. The fall of his senior year (1945), he was the co-captain and quarterback of the football team. That team was unscored-upon and was later inducted into the Illinois Football Hall of Fame. Neil loved big band music, car races, oil painting, and the Chicago Bears. Once his kids arrived, he devoted everything he had to raising them and supporting them in everything they did; his grandkids were the recipients of that same kind of love, all the way up until his death.
Neil is survived by his wife, Joanne Stiver of Walnut; one daughter, Leigh (Scott) Kossman of Hinckley; one son, Chip (Erin) Stiver of Springfield; and six grandchildren, Josephine (Doug Meyer) Kossman, Erin and Reilly Stiver, Anna and Lillian Kossman, and Stone Stiver.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one daughter in infancy, Melissa Stiver.
The visitation will be held on Saturday, December 3, 2022, from 9:00 – 11:00 AM at First Lutheran Church in Ohio. The funeral service will follow at 11:00 AM with Rev. Leo Patterson officiating. Military rites will conclude the services; and a luncheon will follow.
A memorial has been established to Heritage Health of Walnut and First Lutheran Church, Ohio.
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